Google's Search App to be Pre-installed on iPhones Amid Antitrust Concerns

Google has made a deal with Apple to have its search app pre-installed on iPhones.
Google paid Apple $15 billion in 2021 to remain the default search engine on Apple devices, a figure that rose to $20 billion in 2022, and is projected to reach $26.3 billion in 2023.
The decision has raised concerns among antitrust advocates, who argue that such deals between tech giants could stifle competition in the industry.
Users will still have the option to change their default search engine and remove the pre-installed Google app.

Google has reportedly made a deal with Apple to have its search app pre-installed on iPhones. This move comes after Google paid Apple $15 billion in 2021 to remain the default search engine on Apple devices, a figure that rose to $20 billion in 2022, and is projected to reach $26.3 billion in 2023. The pre-installed Google search app will be separate from the Safari browser, which currently uses Google as its default search engine. This decision has raised concerns among antitrust advocates, who argue that such deals between tech giants could stifle competition in the industry. However, it is important to note that users will still have the option to change their default search engine and remove the pre-installed Google app if they wish.

The deal between Google and Apple is not a new phenomenon. The two tech giants have had a longstanding agreement for Google to be the default search engine on Apple devices. This agreement has been a significant source of revenue for Apple, contributing to the company's services segment, which has been a key growth area in recent years. The decision to pre-install the Google search app on iPhones is seen as a further extension of this agreement.

The move has been met with criticism from some quarters, with concerns raised about the potential antitrust implications. Critics argue that such deals could limit competition by making it more difficult for other search engines to gain traction on Apple devices. However, others point out that users still have the ability to change their default search engine and remove the pre-installed Google app, suggesting that the deal may not significantly impact competition.


Confidence

95%

Doubts
  • The exact financial details of the deal between Google and Apple are not publicly available, and the reported figures are estimates.

Sources

94%

  • Unique Points
    • The deal is said to be worth billions of dollars, but the exact amount is unknown.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (80%)
    • MacRumors is a site that primarily covers Apple-related news, which could potentially bias its coverage towards Apple.
    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication

    93%

    • Unique Points
      • The move could potentially raise antitrust concerns as Google already pays Apple billions of dollars to be the default search engine on Safari.
    • Accuracy
      No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
    • Deception (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Fallacies (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Bias (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (75%)
      • The Verge is owned by Vox Media, which has received funding from Comcast Ventures, a division of Comcast Corporation that has significant business interests in the technology sector.
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      94%

      • Unique Points
        • This is not the first time Google has paid Apple for search engine privileges, but it is the first time the Google Search app will come pre-installed on iPhones.
      • Accuracy
        No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
      • Deception (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Fallacies (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Bias (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (80%)
        • 9to5Mac is a site that primarily covers Apple-related news, which could potentially bias its coverage towards Apple.
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication

        98%

        • Unique Points
          • Google's payment to Apple in 2021 was a significant increase from the $12 billion it paid in 2019.
        • Accuracy
          No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
        • Deception (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Fallacies (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Bias (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication

        94%

        • Unique Points
          • The deal is a win for Google, which has been trying to increase its presence on Apple devices for years.
        • Accuracy
          No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
        • Deception (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Fallacies (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Bias (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (80%)
          • Android Police primarily covers Android and Google-related news, which could potentially bias its coverage towards Google.
          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication